Manchester United & Ecuador

When will Antonio Valencia return?

Manchester United is going through a big transitional period. With former managers David Moyes, Louis Van Gaal and Jose Mourinho failing to bring Manchester United back to their former Fergie glory days, Chief Executive of Manchester United Ed Woodward looks to reorganize the entire footballing structure of the club. The club is now finding the light of hope under the reign of interim manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and is currently one of the best performing team among the European elites. With the once lost squad finding the right direction again, one pivotal man is seen missing from Solskjaer’s game plans, Antonio Valencia.

Antonio Valencia only played for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer once in a Premier League match and it has since been 4 months of absence. The 33-year-old Ecuador right back is reportedly injured and won’t be featuring for the team until the end of March 2019. It is rumored that Valencia has lost his place as the primary fullback choice to England International Ashley Young and is hence looking for a move away from Manchester United. Antonio Valencia has 4 months left on his contract with Manchester United having an option of a clause which, if triggered, would extend his current contract by a year.Manchester United currently has three right back choices in Antonio Valencia, Ashley Young and Diogo Dalot. Among these three, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer favors Young since he is more compatible with his game plan of constant attacking using the pace of the full backs. Dalot too looks like a promising prospect as he has shined and proved worthy of his presence in the team when given a chance. As a result, Valencia has fallen down in the pecking order and it’s uncertain whether we are ever going to see him in action again in the United shirt.